Monday, April 20, 2009

Work on the KR Market subway, aimed to provide safe and easy passage to pedestrians, is back on track after getting stuck over a sewage pipe running below.

Hoping to complete the project before the coming monsoon, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is going ahead without disturbing the sewage line. BBMP and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board were playing a blame game when asked about the delay in the work which was started two years ago.

Initially, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials had blamed the contractors for the delay in the project which is a joint venture of Maruti Construction and Malaysia Green Construction. Then they began pointing their fingers at the underground sewage pipe running below the subway.

"The project was delayed because of the sewage pipe. It was the responsibility of the BWSSB to shift it," said AK Gopalaswamy, engineer-in-chief of BBMP.

BWSSB officials had a different version to tell.

"We asked the BBMP to depositRs1.25 crore for shifting the sewage line. Palike officials did not do it. They say they will do the work themselves," said a BWSSB official.

He said the water board had already given permission to the BBMP to carry out the work on their own.

"On inspection, we found that the BBMP has built a concrete shield above the drainage system. This means they are carrying out the work without disturbing the line," he said.

The delay in subway work is adding to the woes of pedestrians. Savithri R, a teacher, said: "We are finding it difficult to move towards Avenue Road from City Market Circle."

But BBMP officials are confident that the subway will be completed before the coming monsoon.

"We have completed 40% of the work.We will be able to finish it by June or July," said an official.